Tag: 2015

So everyone kinda knows that I’ve had a pretty bad time finding some good Star Wars books since the release of the new books… The MG books wasn’t bad, but they were short and left me wanting more. Aftermath was a disaster. Heir to the Jedi wasn’t much better. Then I heard about Lost Stars. A YA novel that takes place across about fifteen of the most important years of the Rebellion. Sure, I could get on board with that. I am very happy to say that Lost Stars is TOTALLY worth being a part of Star Wars cannon.

This books follows two main characters (with alternating view points). Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree. The book covers a large portion of their life, from when they first met Grand Admiral Tarkin as children, to training together to be Imperial Pilots. After graduating from the Academy, they split in different directions, and everything starts spiraling out of control. They lose close friends with the destruction of Alderaan and the Death Star. Thane chooses to difect and eventually finds himself a member of the Rebel Alliance. Ciena becomes a Commander in the Imperial Starfleet. Yes, this is a romance, and they struggle with their feelings to each other and their commitments, but this is so much more. This is what every Star Wars novel should be… Fun. Continue reading “Star Wars: Lost Stars – Hope for Star Wars is Found!”→

I found this book, and was excited because I thought it was just a fantasy book. Then after reading about a page, I realized it was a historical fantasy book. Mind = blown.

Jessamin, our heroine, moves to the country of Albion to attend college. She works at a hotel while she struggles to survive and assure her mother that she’s doing just fine on her own. One night, she runs into our hero, Finn, and things only get awesome from there. Finn’s a magician, but can use real magic to transport, heal, and fight against evil. Jessamin’s been marked though by the mysterious and dangerous Lord Downpike, and is in real danger that not even Finn can save her from. Continue reading “Illusions of Fate: A Historical Fantasy”→

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You know, I’m starting to think that the fate of Star Wars books really lies in the YA and middle grade books. This one was fantastic, and part of a series of three, focusing on Han Solo, Princess Leia and of course, Luke Skywalker.

In this book, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO are sent on a mission by Mon Mothma. Along the way, they are forced to land on a mysterious world called Devaron. But the planet isn’t all it appears to be, and Luke can sense the call of the Force from some nearby ruins. This book does an excellent job of bridging the gap between episodes IV and V, giving us a glimpse into how Luke Skywalker began his journey as a Jedi, and of course, his first lightsaber battle. Continue reading “Star Wars: Weapon of a Jedi”→

You know, I’m starting to think that the fate of Star Wars books really lies in the YA and middle grade books. This one was fantastic, and part of a series of three, focusing on Han Solo, Princess Leia and of course, Luke Skywalker.

In this book, Han Solo and his faithful sidekick Chewbacca are on a mission for the Rebel Alliance. Han still isn’t thrilled with the Rebel’s, but Chewie seems to convince Han to help them out. Their mission is to extract a Rebel Operative who is being hunted by the Imperials. Needless to say Han and Chewie find themselves in a few scuffles with the Imperials where their whit and blasters are required. Continue reading “Star Wars: Smugler’s Run A Han Solo And Chewbacca Adventure”→

You know, I’m starting to think that the fate of Star Wars books really lies in the YA and middle grade books. This one was fantastic, and part of a series of three, focusing on Han Solo, Princess Leia and of course, Luke Skywalker.

In this book, Princess Leia still struggles with her own desires and the fate of the Rebel Alliance after the events of Episode V. Luke Skywalker makes a brief appearance, but this is really about Leia. Since she is such a well-known member of the Rebel Alliance, she’s forced to constantly move and hide from the Imperials. She comes up with a plan for a decoy mission to draw the Empire’s attention so the Rebel Fleet can target the second Death Star.

Meanwhile, Leia is struggling with her own desires to go after Han and rescue him. She’s torn because of her duty to the Rebel Alliance, and can’t exactly abandon them to go save him. Ultimately, we realize what a force Mon Mothma has been in her life to help her understand her duty.

The book is meant for Middle Graders, but I think it has enough to hold the attention of Adults as well. The book was short, and was mostly character driven. I really enjoyed Leia’s team. I knew that she would make it through their trials, but there were some nail biting moments for the rest of them.

I don’t think I’ll be returning to the ‘adult side’ of the Star Wars publishing world any time soon. I like it here with the YA and MG books where characters are genuine, stories are filled with adventure and suspense, and I never feel like the story is forced.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cecil Castellucci. Small Girl. Big Party. Author of the novels Stone in the Sky, Tin Star, Odd Duck, The Year of the Beasts, First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Grandma’s Gloves, Boy Proof, The Queen of Cool, Beige and The Plain Janes/Janes in Love. Former indie rocker known as Nerdy Girl and Cecil Seaskull. DIY filmmaker. enfant terrible. modern 21st century flapper.

Though America and Maxon are finished with their Selection, their daughter (Princess Eadlyn) is now asked to participate in her own Selection. She begrudgingly agrees, and starts to feel the pressure mounting as she realizes what she’s gotten herself into.

This book takes place twenty years after America and Maxon’s wedding. Things have changed in their world, and mostly for the better. The castes are gone, but rioting is threatening to tear the kingdom apart. To distract them, and in a hope to unify the country, Eadlyn is asked to take on her own Selection. Continue reading “The Heir to the Selection Trilogy”→

I went into this book without really knowing what it was about. My sister recommended it to me, and said to give it a shot. So I did. And I was very pleasantly surprised.

Without getting into spoilers, Harper’s life is turned upside down when she inherits magical powers and now has to protect one of her arch enemies, David, (cue love interest). The hijinks that ensue are hilarious and heart warming. Harper, whose entire life has been about homecoming crowns and cotillion dresses, learns some great life lessons. Her ‘perfect life’ is turned upside down, and she’s forced to deal with not only her new powers, but also being a High School Student. Between destroying her car, being chased by bad guys and several other fast paced adventures, she always seems to keep her southern charm. Continue reading “Rebel Belle: A thrilling, magic ride set in the South!”→

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Okay, confession time. I’d heard that Bella Thorne ‘wrote*’ a novel, and was one of the first Disney Channel Stars to break into the publishing world, and that’s more than half the reason I picked up this book. I’m not a huge Bella Thorne fan, but I know a little about her story, and found the premise of a fictional autobiography somewhat entertaining.

Anyway, let’s talk about the story!

When Autumn loses her dad and has to move to Florida, she struggles with finding friends, and staying out of trouble. Which, isn’t the easiest thing to do when the school’s Queen Bee keeps making her life miserable by posing an embarrassing photo and creating a fake website that looks like Autumn created!

I had such high hopes for this book! I’m a fan of Warehouse 13, and the Librarian movies (if you haven’t watched them, you should!). I was expecting some of this to come into the book, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Elizabeth gets a job at an object lending library. Some of the objects are ordinary, like musical instruments you can borrow to see if you actually enjoy playing the tuba, but some are a little more fantastical and some are even magical.

Another Cannon Star Wars Book! Maybe this one will fare a little better than the last one, eh?

This book is told in first person (what ever happened to third person? Was there someone wrong with that?), and centers on Luke Skywalker as he… er… does something?

Oh right! He rescues Nakari Kelen, an alien cryptographer. And runs into a love interest, and has about 50 mini-plots so that you forget what the original plot even was in the beginning. And I’m not even kidding. He’s transporting something somewhere, then he’s eating noodles, then he’s trying to locate Nakari’s family, then he’s eating noodles on a date, then he’s on this strange planet fighting smugglers, then he’s eating noodles again.Sigh. And I had such hopes for this book.